CM Storm QuickFire Stealth Mechanical Keyboard Review

CM Storm QuickFire Stealth Introduction:

These days the idea of having anything but a mechanical keyboard is just silly. Having to type on an old Dell rubber dome at work only makes me more ready to go home to my dear mechanical at the end of the day. We've taken a look at quite a few different options in the mechanical world here at OCC and today we'll take a look at a rather familiar friend with a twist. Today we'll be taking a look at the CM Storm QuickFire Stealth, which was revealed back in January at CES 2013. Personally I've played with almost the full line of keyboards from Cooler Master, including the CM Storm QuickFire TK, the CM Storm QuickFire Pro, and still my favorite and in use, the CM Storm Trigger; but I find the Stealth to be its own breed.

The QuickFire Stealth, which you can guess by its name, has something a little different about it. The keys don't light up, and actually, they don't even have letters on them (at least not on the tops of the key caps). This awesome design, for those of us fortunate enough to touch type, provides a complete blacked out look from the top down (quoted "hidden and dangerous" from the website). Only from a lower angle can you see the careful markings on the front sides of the key caps to help you locate the keys you just can't remember. This keyboard surely isn't for the light hearted computer fans – if you can't navigate without chicken pecking, you won't get anywhere with this. This keyboard is truly for the pros – are you self-conscious about your typing abilities yet?

CM Storm QuickFire Stealth Closer Look:

The CM QuickFire Stealth mechanical keyboard comes in one of the smallest keyboard boxes I've seen yet. Despite my anger toward the lack of a numpad (I'll rant later), the size of this board is incredibly "cute". The box overall follows the usual format from Cooler Master with the red and black theme and CM Storm logo. The keyboard image on the front of the box looks almost Photoshopped; but really it's more the fact that the keys have no writing on the tops. The image nonetheless registers "keyboard" to the brain, despite this fact. The back of the box goes on to spout off the "stealthy" features in eight different languages.

Taking a quick look at the front of the box again before we open it up, there is a quick sticker to identify what keyboard switch you have received. In this case, I've been lucky enough to get some Cherry MX Blues. Although I've become a diehard fan of the Cherry MX Greens, I'm pretty happy as long as it's not Reds or Browns (personal choice). Opening up the box, you won't see the keyboard yet, but a manual is packed neatly with a PS/2 adapter and some hidden away bonus items for your eyes to see on the next page...keep reading!